Probably the best way for a beginner to learn how to play Sudoku is to
work through a portion of a puzzle that's rated as "Easy". For the
purpose of this tutorial, the Sudoku puzzle below has been provided
with location references to help you understand the location of what'
being discussed:

For example, the instructions
might refer to R8/C9, which would be the box at the intersection of Row
8 and Column 9, which currently contains the number 4. Additionally,
the instructions may refer to a block number, such as Block 1, which in
the example shown above contains the numbers 9, 4 and 8 in the upper
left of the Sudoku grid.

Keep the rules in mind
– each row, column and block must contain only one instance
of all of the numbers 1 through 9.

Solving a Puzzle

1. Look for a good place to
start. You can work vertically, horizontally, or solve within a single
block. Since C4 already contains six "givens" – pre-filled
numbers – you might want to work vertically first in this
column.

2. In C4, the numbers 2, 4, and
5 are still needed to complete the column. If you glance at Block 2,
Block 5, and Block 8 together, you should notice that only Block 8 does
not yet contain a 5, so it's the only block where the 5 can go. Since
only one box in column 4 within Block 8 is vacant, place the 5 in Block
8 at the intersection of R9 and C4:

Column 4 (C4) still needs a 2
and a 4, but you're not yet able to pin down exactly where they should
be placed, so you need to move on for now. Since you now have five of
the nine numbers needed for Block 8, let's see if we can fill in some
of its vacant boxes.

3. Block 8 still needs a 2, a
6, an 8, and a 9. Of these numbers, notice there's a 6 already
contained in adjacent Blocks 7 and 9, and there's already an 8 in
adjacent Blocks 5 and 7. Let's start with those two numbers first.

4. Block 7 contains the number
6 in Row 7. Block 9 contains the number 6 in Row 9. Therefore, the 6
you need for Block 8 must be placed in Row 8. Since only one box is
vacant in Block 8, place the six at the intersection of R8/C6:

5. Continuing to solve for
Block 8, you still need a 2, an 8, and a 9. Notice that Column 6
already contains an 8, thereby eliminating the boxes at R7/C6 and
R9/C6. The only remaining vacant box within Block 8 is located at
R9/C5, so place the 8 in that location:

6. You still need a 2 and a 9
to complete Block 8, but neither of them can be reduced to only one
position, so it's time to move on again. Let's look at Column 9 (C9)
and try to solve vertically again.

7. Which numbers are missing in
Column 9?

8. If you said 6, 8, and 9,
you're correct! If you try the 6 in each of the remaining vacant boxes
in Column 9, you'll see that it can go anywhere at this point. So try
the 8 next. Can it go in Row 2 of Block 3?

9. If you answered No, again
you're correct. Row 2 already contains an 8 within Block 2. Can the 8
go in Row 5 of Block 6?

10. If you answered Yes, you're
right. Block 6 doesn't already contain an 8, and there is no 8
currently in Row 5. But don't put it in just yet – there's
one more vacant box in Column 9 you need to eliminate first. Can the 8
go in Row 6 of Block 6?

11. No, it can't because Row 6
already contains an 8. That means that the 8 must go in Row 5 of Column
9 (R5/C9). Let's add it to the puzzle:

12. You still need a 6 and a 9
in Column 9 and you have only two vacant boxes in the column now
– one in Row 2 and one in Row 6. Can you pinpoint the
location for either the 6 or the 9?

13. When you try the 6, you'll
see that there's nothing eliminating it from either vacant box in
Column 9. But what about the 9?

14. If you answered that the 9
cannot be placed on Row 6 because Row 6 already contains a 9, you're
correct. Therefore, the 9 must go in Row 2 of Column 9. With only one
vacant box left in Column 9, you've now determined the location for the
6 through the process of elimination:

15. Congratulations! You've
solved Column 9 in its entirety! You're on your way to Sudoku mastery!

A Few Sudoku Tips

As you continue to work
through your puzzles, keep the following points in mind:

· There's no need to
guess. If you haven't eliminated a box to a single possible number,
keep looking.

· You can work
vertically, horizontally, or within a block, you should get accustomed
to working all 3 ways and keep them in mind if it seems like you're
stuck.

· In the process of
completing the puzzle, you'll need to jump from block to block.

· If you make a
mistake and end up with two of the same numbers in a row, column, or
block, look around before you give up and start over. Can you move one
of the duplicates to another location that's allowed and be able to
continue?

· Don't forget to
look at the big picture. It helps to be able to notice what's already
in adjacent rows, columns and blocks, like you did in Steps 2 and 3 of
this tutorial. Sudoku takes a keen eye, too!

· If you get stuck
on a puzzle, take a break and come back to it later. Sometimes it helps
to come back with a fresh outlook, especially if you're tired or in a
hurry.

· Don't even think
about trying a medium difficulty or advanced level puzzle until you're
comfortable solving the easy puzzles first, or else you're likely to
get discouraged and not want to continue playing Sudoku.

· When playing on
paper, some Sudoku players like to write out the remaining numbers
needed for a column or row and then cross them out or erase them as
each numbers' place is solved. Here's an example:

· Others like to put the possible numbers within the box in
small print to help them keep track, like this:

· Others work better just saying the numbers in their head,
or even aloud. Feel free to experiment with whatever makes you feel
comfortable and help you to work more efficiently.